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Western makers back the East

11th April 1975, Page 43
11th April 1975
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 43, 11th April 1975 — Western makers back the East
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Joint ventures common in trucks and buses

Belgrade show reported by a special correspondent THE determination of the Belgrade Fair authorities to retain the annual cycle of the Yugoslav Motor Show has resulted in a pattern of fluctuating support by the industry which would dearly love to see a reduction in a number of European exhibitions. As it turned out this year's exhibition proved to be one of the more valuable contributions in providing a progress report on the achievements of Yugoslav vehicle builders as well as on the growing involvement of foreign makers in East European markets.

The Show also marked the turning point at which the relatively young domestic industry is beginning to shed many of the out-dated design features which had distinguished its products from those of its capitalist neighbours. Although most of the country's vehicle requirements are met by local manufacture, practically all truck and bus designs are derived from or based on models originated by Western co-operation and licence partners, in particular Germany and Italy.

The arrangement not only benefits the Yugoslav economy by reducing foreign purchase but, in many cases, gives the Western manufacturer additional openings into other markets of great potential.

Co-operation

A model case is the liaison between Magirus-Deutz and TAM, Yugoslavia's first and now largest cv builders. With active technical and financial aid from the German co-operation partner TAM has brought its product quality to a level which is highly competitive in other overseas markets. Now a start is being made to extend the product range into higher weight brackets by introducing assembly of skd Magirus-Deutz models of up to 26 tons gvw. This will cover both haulage and site vehicles.

At the same time engine production—part of which is for export to Germany—is being stepped up to include V6 and V8 types. Two of the TAM models in the 5 and 6.5-tonpayload class are being phased out and replaced by new vehicles of higher ratings.

Last year's increase in exports w a s represented mainly by the supply of psv to Poland, but the order book for 1975 has brought in new customers in Libya, the Middle East and Nigeria. In a fiveyear programme production of trucks, buses and engines is to be stepped up to 14,000 and 16,000 respectively — TAM alone will by 1980 make the number of units representing total Yugoslav production now.

In the psv field Yugoslavia made over 4,100 vehicles last year and, judging by the pressure on public transport in the capital, far from enough. TAM had a full line-up of its bus and coach programme at Belgrade. Beginning with the Perkins-engined 2001 minibus for 15 passengers — already shown last year — the range now goes right through to the Magirus-Deutz derived M 230 R 120 coach. The maker still lacks a 12m bus which in view of Yugoslav crush loads could be a valuable addition to the programme.

At a press conference during the Belgrade Show the new managing director of TAM revealed that talks have been initiated with both FAPFAMOS and Zastava, the latter

Continued on page 42 Top: One of a number of Scammell vehicles now in course of delivery to a Yugoslav construction unit this 6 x 4 Crusader is fitted with a Detroit Diesel V8 engine and Fuller gearbox. Plated for operation at 65 tons the tractive unit has specially extended air intakes, seen on the cab roof. Centre: Engineering to raise the payload of a one ton IMV truck to 1.75 tons consists of adding another axle and installing a Daimler Benz OM 615 diesel engine in place of the Renault petrol engine normally used. This steel-bodied livestock trailer is fitted with an hydraulicallyoperated intermediate deck. The folding loading ramp is raised and lowered manually by a crankoperated cable run.

being the Yugoslav licenceholder for light Fiat commercials. Hingeing on the new Fiat/Magirus-Deutz liaison there could well be some substance in suggested revisions at the light end of the present TAM range. During the press meeting reference was also made to the development of a joint engine programme by Fiat and Magirus-Deutz although, on questioning the speaker, fruition of this was put five years away.

Air-cooled units

The continuing predilection by many markets for air-cooled power units, now greatly enhanced by the recent Soviet order for more than 9,000 Magirus-Deutz construction vehicles, would appear to weigh in the German maker's favour in a joint development scheme. As with TAM, cooperation with its partner from the West, Daimler-Benz is also beginning to be more effective for FAP-FAMOS. Although at Belgrade this maker, second in the Yugoslav league table, still showed vehicles with the three old cabs With their touch of the midFifties, the imminent introduction of the Daimler-Benz cab on most of the heavier vehicles should give the wellengineered range a long overdue facelift.

While Daimler-Benz exhibits occupied a separate stand a new 303 coach shared the FAPFAMOS display of psv built in Yugoslavia. Surprisingly, the local product stood up extremely well to Western styling and finish. With two psv bodybuilders in the FAPFAMOS group, Sanos in Skoplje and Dubrava in Zagreb, there is more variety in the model range than normally associated with a Communist country.

The llm Dubrava 15 coach, for instance, provides luxury travel for 45 passengers in the all-welded steel-framed body. The vehicle is powered by a 10-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine developing 190bhp at 2200rpm, mounted at the rear and driving through a FAMOS six-speed gearbox. ZF power steering is fitted. The Sanos Type 12 coach incorporates many of the features of the Mercedes-Benz 0.302 coach including curved windows and other styling details; it is mechanically similar however to the Dubrava vehicle and is powered by the same engine.

Fine record

Leyland buses have achieved a fine operating record in Yugoslavia and one of the latest batch of Worldmasters, fitted with Novi Sad bodywork, formed one of the exhibits at Belgrade. Although almost of nostalgic interest with its high steps, moulded plywood seats and standee type windows the 100-passenger vehicle represented the long-established method of entry into the domestic market which requires a high local content in units based on foreign chassis. Conversely, the quality of Yugoslav coachwork las attracted orders from other European countries and the Automontaza Ljubljana body on a rear-engined Scania coach for a Swedish customer bore witness to this.

Swedish participation also included one of the latest Volvo test vehicles, an F 89 6x2 tractive unit, for which Belgrade was the destination of its first trip.

But perhaps one of the most interesting foreign exhibits was another British Leyland exhibit. Forming part of an impressive order by a Yugoslav construction company for Scammell vehicles the Show unit was a Crusader 6x4 tractor powered by a GM Detroit Diesel type 8V-71 derated to 280bhp at 2100rpm. Transmission is through a Fuller 15-speed gearbox and the tractor is to be operated with a locally built plant-carrying semi-trailer at a gcw of 65 tonnes.

Tags

Organisations: Yugoslav league
Locations: Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana

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